Russian foreign ministry refutes reported supplies of S-300 to Iran

Russian deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov claimed that information about Russian supplies of S-300 surface-to-air missile system to Iran is not correct.

On Thursday, at the press conference in Moscow Ryabkov commented on the information in mass media regarding Russian S-300 supplies to Iran: "The recent noise about the issue surprises me. I believe it is due to the deficiency of big international news at the background of Western celebrations observed by many of our neighbours. Naturally, new information having nothing to do with current or possible events becomes the subject of fixation."

According to the deputy Foreign Minister, the development of Russian-Iranian military-technical cooperation is transparent and complies with the international law.

"Our entire cooperation with Iran is developing conclusively and absolutely under the international law," emphasised the Russian diplomatic official.

Ryabkov declared that military-technical cooperation between Russia and Iran qualifies with all export control regulations and complies with the Russian law.

He also pointed out that Russia supplies no offensive weapons to Iran.

"We do not supply offensive weapons to Iran and I may say that any imputation against Iran and us of undermining stability or security in the region due to our cooperation in this sphere is unjust. We denounce this formulation," - insisted Russian deputy Foreign Minister.

Earlier, December 22, the Federal Service of Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) announced that Russia does not supply S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Iran. "Information on supplies of the S-300 air-defence systems to Iran is not correct," the report says.

FSMTC ephasises that military-technical cooperation with Iran is planned, in line with previous arrangements and meets all international obligations.